Effect of Coexistent Hydrogen Isotopes on Tracer Diffusion of Tritium in Alpha Phase of Group-V Metal-Hydrogen Systems

Abstract

Tracer diffusion coefficients of tritium in the alpha phase of group-V metal-hydrogen systems, -MH(D)xTy (M ¼ V and Ta; x ) y), were measured in order to clarify the effects of coexistent hydrogen isotopes on the tritium diffusion behavior. The hydrogen concentration dependence of such behavior and the effects of the coexistent hydrogen isotopes (protium and deuterium) were determined. The results obtained in the present (for V and Ta) and previous (for Nb) studies revealed that tritium diffusion was definitely dependent on hydrogen concentration but was not so sensitive to the kind of coexistent hydrogen isotopes. By summarizing those data, it was found that the hydrogen concentration dependence of the tracer diffusion coefficient of tritium in the alpha phase of group-V metals could be roughly expressed by a single empirical curve.